“Oh, Miss Bascom! I am so glad to see you. Come right in. Donald is out just now; but he will return presently, and I’m sure will be delighted to see an old friend. This way, please. Is your father improving satisfactorily?”
This greeting was so utterly different from what she had expected, that for the moment she was silent; but when they were seated she began:
“Mrs. Maxwell, I don’t know how to express my gratitude to you for all you have done for my father. I—I––”
“Then I wouldn’t try, Miss Bascom. Don’t give the matter a single thought. We were glad to do what we could for your father, and we made him as comfortable as we could.”
Virginia’s heart was quite atrophied, and so with choking voice she began:
“And I’m afraid that I have not been very civil to you—in fact, I am sure that I owe you an apology––”
“No, never mind. It’s all right now. Suppose you 267 take off your things and stay to supper with us. Then we can have a real good visit, and you will see how well we dwellers in tents can live!”
Virginia winced; but for some reason which she could not understand she found it quite impossible to decline the invitation.
“I’m sure you are very kind, Mrs. Maxwell; but I’m afraid I shall inconvenience you.”
“Oh no, not a bit. Now will you be a real good Samaritan and help me a little, as I have no maid? You might set the table if you don’t mind, and when Donald comes we shall be ready for him. This is really quite jolly,” she added, bustling about, showing Virginia where to find things.